- THEA And Webber Focus On Readiness And Maintenance Ahead Of Hurricane Season Peak
- 407 ETR Spokesperson Says Ontario Hasn't Discussed A Concession Buyback
- Bulgaria's Toll System Begins Monitoring Driver Speeds And Issuing Speeding Fines
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THEA And Webber Focus On Readiness And Maintenance Ahead Of Hurricane Season Peak
The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) reported on its completion of several projects to enhance its readiness for peak hurricane season. It replaced the roofs on all of its facilities and cleared drainage ditches to prevent flooding. A vendor, Webber, the Ferrovial general contracting subsidiary, has been trimming corridor trees and brush to clear fence lines. The authority’s staff is undergoing ongoing emergency response training.
THEA notes Webber is playing a major role in the agency’s preparedness strategy through a new asset maintenance contract. “This agreement shifts the focus to a more proactive maintenance model, using advanced technologies to keep the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway system in top condition. Crews now use Survey123 for real-time inspections, Robotiz3d ARRES Eye to monitor pavement conditions, and iCone technology to alert motorists of work zones, even during severe weather events.” The tools help THEA identify maintenance issues before they morph into hazards.
THEA is also reminding customers that September, National Preparedness Month, is a good time for them to secure their homes and check their emergency kits.
Sources: THEA blog post, THEA social media post
Climate Change & Infrastructure Resilience Ferrovial Florida Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Maintenance Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Safety (Includes COVID-19 Impacts) Tampa Bay-Hillsborough County FL Metro Area Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) Webber407 ETR Spokesperson Says Ontario Hasn't Discussed A Concession Buyback
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has occasionally suggested that his government is considering the possibility of buying back the 99-year concession granted to the 407 ETR operating company in 1999. However, a company spokesperson says that topic has never come up in discussions with the province, which are frequent. A CBC News freedom of information request for government records concerning buyback deliberations turned up nothing.
A lawmaker critical of provincial transportation policy calls Ford’s buyback musings a “political stunt” and urges the government to “get serious about addressing congestion.” She adds that taking public ownership of 407 ETR and removing its tolls would likely increase congestion, citing the traffic buildup that’s occurred since the province eliminated tolling of its section of Highway 407 last June.
Ford recently rejected a congestion relief proposal involving government subsidization of 407 ETR toll payments by commercial truckers. That concept was first proposed by opposition party leaders who see it as means of diverting truck traffic from congested non-tolled highways to 407 ETR, which is underutilized. Marit Stiles, the Ontario legislature’s opposition leader, is calling on Ford to reconsider subsidy payments.
Sources: CBC News, TRN (8-27-25), TRN (8-18-25)
407 ETR Concession Canada Ontario P3 Privatization & Private OwnershipBulgaria's Toll System Begins Monitoring Driver Speeds And Issuing Speeding Fines
On Sunday, September 7, toll system cameras on Bulgarian motorways began measuring the maximum speed of vehicles as well as their average speed across designated roadway segments. Drivers observed exceeding the legal limits will receive electronically generated fines. Areas subject to average speed monitoring are disclosed on the national toll agency’s website.
According to Professor Oleg Asenov, head of the National Toll Administration, the monitoring initiative is a response to reckless driving and crashes. “The time has come,” he said, “for the toll cameras to open their eyes to average speed violations.” He added that an expansion of areas subject to monitoring is planned and stricter penalties for traffic violations are coming into effect.
A police official reported that nearly 600 violators were detected in the first seven hours after the monitoring took effect and some extremely high vehicle speeds were recorded.
Sources: Novinite.com, Fakti.bg
Bulgaria ETC Systems Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Safety (Includes COVID-19 Impacts)Subscription Information
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